The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-09

obsolete. It would be little less than murder to
send men in these ships, at the present Time to
encounter any recently built 1ron-cad
/ appreciate fully that it is only as temporary
expedient that it is suggested, and with the
m pSan nothne This has
been the theory upon which over $50 00O 0OO and
probably $75, 0O0. 900 have been spent since the
close OF the war It is time to stop 1t, ana De
content only with the best. Ii every dollar is
made count upon something of real value,
waste will stop. and not before"
After describing the extravaganza system OF
repairing vessels in past years, the repairs often
costing several times much as the vessel did,
the Secretary says:
become Of the $40, 900. 900 spent upon vessels
since the close of the war, in view of the fact
that there is now navy. The foregoing bit of
history will serve an illustration.
1.-THE pneumatic dynamite gun has been de-
veloped by private enterprise to the point where
it merits immediate attention Whatever de-
do if accurately placed. Against its method of
attack neither nets nor machine guns are of any
considerable use. It can be fired at such dis
tance as to be beyond the effective range or
machine guns and the line of fight of the pro.
jectile escapes notice. There questions yet
to be settled before its efficiency for
mined This invention, like every 9th
er, has its peculiar problems
to solve. but the zeal and intelligence thus far
given to its development promise ultimate sue
cess For coast and narbor defenses, TO be fred
from land batteries its accuracy is substantially
established. but for naval purposes other ele-
ments of difficulty intervene The movement
of the vessel destroys the possibility Of avaling
of a range previously determined by expert
mont. However, the problems to be solved are
receiving the most jealous study, and 1t is be-
lieved by tn ose interested that in time all will
be worked out
"a public feeling seems to exist for the
ton OF a naval reserve. The department has
informed itself of the system of organization
for coast defense and naval reserves foreign
countries and is prepared to formulate general
plan for similar organization to meet the re-
Quirements of our own institutions. It
should resemble in organization that of the
militia, or national guards; rest upon the foun-
dation OF local interest contemplate the en-
ployment and rapid mobilization of steamers en-
rolled auxiliary navy list, and be calcu-
lated to produce the best results upon a COM
paratively small national expenditure. l ask
for this question the EARNEST consideration OF
Congress.
"a notable illustration of the generosity and
courage with which England pushes her ship
ping interests is seen in the manner in which
she Is, at this moment, dealing with the trade Of
the north Pacific It has been thus far princi-
pally under the American flag, and contributory
to San Francisco and the United States.
The British government and Canada to-
gether are proposing the establishment of
line of firstciass steamers from Vancouver to
Japan. The subsidy is likely to be $500. 900
nually-f45, 900 from England and Els. 900 from
Canada There will also be contributed from
the naval reserve fund probably So per ton
nualy for each ship constructed for the route,
which will increase the sum by probably $685.
600. Under such competition it is quite easy to
conjecture what will become of the American
flag and our resources in the way of a naval re-
serve in the north Pacific.
1.-THE estimates for the navy and m arine corps
for the current fiscal year amounted to $50. $780,,
479 o. and the appropriations TO 500, lS2, 1913 49,
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1889. amount to $23, 427, $40. ID, So, 161,
536. SO less than the estimates. and 50, 1914
7o3. 66 less than the appropriations for the cur
rent fiscal year"
Special attention is called to the considerations
presented in the report in reference the
provision OF additional facilities for naval work
on the Pacific coast. especially in the neighbor
hood of Puget sound, the great coal and iron
region of the future upon this Apart
from the question OF an additional naval station,
measures should certainly be taken to place the
only naval station now existing upon the coast.
that at San Francisco, in a fully equipped condi-
ton.
Another and most important subject referred
to in the report Is the question of making avail
able our naval resources the Gulf coast
The necessity for naval station the
shores of the Gulf is i'm perative. It appears to
the Bureau that Pensacola, though defective in
some respects combines many advantages for a
naval station. and that. by the removal of the
yard to the upper part Of the bay, railroad con-
nections can be made and other important bene-
fits secured.
I'm three years, says the Secretary s'we shall
have twenty-one wooden vessels. in six years
but four and in nine years entire wooden
navy will have disappeared
Attention has been called in previous reports
to the necessity Of increasing the clerical force
engaged in the compilation and arrangement of
the war records for publication. The recon-
mendations for the vigorous prosecution of this
work is renewed"
The Secretary devotes considerable space to a
chronicle of the progress made in the science of
naval ship building coast defenses etc, through
out the world during the year. The general
tone of the report is of great satisfaction
with the successful development of the Score
tarys plans for rehabilitation of the navy.